Safe extra pocket



April 29, 1969 w. E. FITZPATRICK SAFE EXTRA POCKET Filed June 12, 1967 FIG! INVENTOR WILFRID E. FITZPATRICK ATTDRNFYQ United States Patent Oflice 3,440,666 SAFE EXTRA POCKET Wilfrid E. Fitzpatrick, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Margaret Anne Williams Filed June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,437 Int. Cl. A4ld 27/20 US. Cl. 2251 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An auxiliary safety pocket comprises a thin, fiat container, open at one edge with a flap adapted to fold over and cover the open edge. The flap has button holes or other fastening means adapted to be secured within a clothing pocket. After securing the flap within the clothing pocket, with the open edge down, the safety pocket is folded downward 180 degrees about the flap, the flap thereby covering the open edge and preventing access thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety pocket of this invention, shown in the position for securing it within a clothing pocket.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the safety pocket in its secured configuration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation viewed in the arrows of 33 of FIG. 2, and showing the safety pocket within a clothing pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, there is illustrated the safety pocket of this invention, which generally comprises a container portion 12 and a securing flap 14. The container portion 12 is preferably thin and flat in shape and may be fabricated of a non-rigid material such as fabric or plastic. The container portion 12 has a single open edge 16 adjacent securing flap 14. Securing flap 14 is provided with a pair of button holes 18 for purpose to be described below.

For use within shirt and trouser pockets, the safety pocket would preferably be about 4% inches long by 4% inches wide, with a /2 inch securing flap.

To use the safety pocket of this invention, the pocket is first oriented in the position shown in FIG. 1.. In this position, it is inserted within pocket 20 of an article of clothing 22. As shown in FIG. 3, in section, the button holes 18 of securing flap 14 are then secured to buttons 24 fastened to the pocket interior, with container portion 12 on the opposite side of flap :14 from the surface to which button 24 is attached. It will be noted that the safety pocket 10 must remain in the position shown in FIG. 1 during the securing of flap 14 to the pocket, otherwise the buttons and button holes are rendered inaccessible by the flap. Once this has been accomplished, the valuables 26 are inserted upwardly into open edge 16 of safety pocket 10, and the pocket thereafter folded downwardly through 180 degrees about flap 14 to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this position, it will be understood that it is impossible to gain access to the 3,440,666 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 interior of safety pocket 10, without first exposing open edge 16 by lifting container portion 12 out of pocket 22 to the position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the safety pocket is self-locking.

Though the safety pocket has been described as for use within a clothing pocket, it is to be understood that it could be fastened at any location to the interior of a mans or womans clothing. The safety pocket may also be used within a bag or briefcase. Similarly, snaps, safety pins, stapling or any other appropriate fastening means could be employed in place of buttons.

It will be appreciated that the use of this unique safety pocket, while allowing convenient access to the wearer, prevents surreptitious removal of the contents by requiring an extra step in exposing the open edge. Accidental loss is also prevented. If safety pins are utilized to pin shut the open edge, the safety pocket can be readily transferred between garments without removing the contents.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claim. Accordingly, the above description is to be interpreted as illustrative of only a single operative embodiment of the invention, rather than in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim:

1. In combination, a safety pocket and a basic pocket for an article of clothing, the safety pocket adapted to be inserted within and secured within the basic pocket which includes inner and outer walls, first fastening means on the inner wall of the basic pocket upon the interior upper portion thereof; a thin flat container, open only along a single edge and having a short flap integrally formed therewith and adapted to fold over and thereby cover said open edge;

said flap being providedwith fastening means adapted to cooperate with said first fastening means to secure said safety pocket flap to the clothing; said safety pocket being otherwise free of connection to the clothing; whereby said safety pocket may be securely positioned within said basic pocket by orienting said open edge downwardly and fastening the outer side of said flap to the interior of the basic pocket and thereafter folding said safety pocket downwardly approximately degrees relative to said flap so that said flap covers said open edge and conceals and covers said fastening means, thereby preventing access to the interior of the safety pocket;

said safety pocket nesting entirely within the basic pocket, and adapted for rotation about its flap 180 degrees as the sole means of obtaining access to its interior.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1923 Denmark.

ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner. 

